Combination spigot and adapter with venting means



Feb. 22, 1955 J, R. SNYDER ET AL 2,702,563

COMBINATION SPIGOT AND-ADAPTER WITH VENTING MEANS Filed Oct. 6, 1949 2Sheets-Sheet l f1: VEIZ LUI 'E J 0:001: Ems/zfizzyaierfiazz/vfific/zefz/Zglbezger y J4 z gW 5 I Feb. 22, 1955 I J. R. SNYDERET AL 2,702,563

COMBINATION SPIGOT AND ADAPTER WITH VENTING MEANS Filed Oct. 6, 1949 2Sheets-Sheet 2 into the normally closed container. :procedure occursunder admirably improved operating condltions and inadvertent damage tosurroundingiprop- United States Patent {COMBINATION SPIGOT AND ADAPTERWITH VENTING MEANS JacobRush Snyder and Frank J.-Schenlrelberger,Cleveland, Ohio, assignors to Thompson Products, Inc., ..Cleveland,Ohio, a corporation ofOhio Application October 6, 1949, Serial No.119,893

9 Claims. .(Cl. 137-:588)

This invention relates generally to a fluid decanting ,apparatus andmore particularly to a combination spigot jandadapter with self-ventingmeans incorporated therein more, decantation of fluids from the familiarglass bottle-type container is very difficult and hazardous inasmuch.asthe gurgle efiect caused by the passage of venting air through thenarrow-bottle neck frequently results'in the splashing of the corrosivechemical or fluid onto objects or-operating personnel in the ,vicinity.

According to the general features of the'present invention, corrosivechemicals and other dangerous fluids,vfor

example, acidsof .the red fuming nitric type, mayibe shipped and handlein stainless steel drums which are durable and capable of withstandingmuch more'abuse ,than has been possible with the conventional glass con-.tainer. The drums are equipped with the usual drainage bushing and maybe shippedlwith a simple closurevaifixed thereon. When decantationof-the fluid in thecontainer is necessary or desirable, the closure maybe'remove'd and a selfaventing combination spigot structure ofthe-present invention may be applied to the drum.

More specifically, the combination selfsventing spigot structureincludes a locking collar whereby aspigot may be-firmlyassembledin thedesired pouring position after the collar has been threaded into adruni'bushing. The

,spigot defines aflow passage having the usual inlet and outlet and, inaddition, incorporates'a valve meansfin -;thejfiow passage so that theflow of fluid therethrough may-beaccurately'controlled.

zMoreover, the spigot defines an independent venting duct with aflapper-type check valve in control of the fiow 9f venting fluidtherethrough.

The provision of such a structure makes it poss'ible-to effect ahighflow rate because the withdrawal of fluid 'fromthe container throughthe spigot structure is'accompanied by a simultaneous venting ofreplacement fluid Furthermore, this erty'and operating personnel iseflectively precluded.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide animproved self-venting combination spigot structure for withdrawing fluidfrom normally closed con- .tainers.

Another object of the present invention istoprovi'de a spigot structurewhereby an automatic venting of the ,container may occur simultaneouslywith the withdrawal of fluid from the container.

Affurther object of the present invention is to :provide a-decantingapparatus whereby corrosive fluids and other hazardous chemicals may behandled efficiently -.with .a

minimization of danger to operating personnel and :sur-

rounding property.

Many other advantages, features and additionallobjects of the presentinvention will become manifest to 411 5. versed in th art up n kinsc erncetozthe detailed d c pt o which foll ws and t e .an execlrs eetsl-o2,702,563 Patented Feb. ,22 19.55

2 drawings in which apreferred embodiment'ofthe'present invention ,isshown and described.

0n the drawings: Figural is-a longitudinal .-cross.:sectional view,:fragmentary: in parL-an with .partsin elevation, :showing aselfven ingmbination .s pigo structure according to the p esentinvention;

:Figure 2. is a viewsimilarto Figure ,1 showingra slightly modifiedversion of the -combinationgspigot. structure according to the presentinvention;

:FigureS is. a: longitudinal cro ss:se.ctional view, fragmen-:taryzintpart,zand;with partswin elevation of another modizfiedzfonn ofa combination SPiEOtvSII'UCtUI :accordingto the present i invention;

Figure 4;is,-a detailed-view of the valve mechanism shown inFigure 3,being substantially a cross-sectional .view ,with parts in elevationtaken on a line.- extending through thelhingepin;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal :cross-sectionalview,:fragmen- 0 tary in partand with'partsin elevation, 'ofan additional modification of the.combination .self-ventingspigot structure according to'the presentinvention; and

Figure. 6 isaa detailed view .with .a. parts broken away of the. poppetvalve shown in Figure 5.

25 As shownlonthe drawings:

:In :Figure l, :.a:rnetal.drum;or container '10 is shownhavingsthe-usual drum opening which, in the presentinstance,;rnay;be:characterized by the provision of a boss 11 definingan internally threaded bore'as-at'lla.

The-spigot structure'of the present invention'is indicated.generallyby'the referencenumeral 12 and com- .-prises.a..generally"tubular barrel portion 13 'for establishing a fluid flowpassage '14.

Theinletend of the .'passage*14 is bounded by an enlargedncylindricalportion indicated at 13a. 'fl'he cylindricalportiouj 13a is; providedwith an annular groove to carry an 0-t-ype 'gasket 16 and" is externallythreadedto receive a locking collar 17 thereon, as well as :to be-threadedly.insertable into threaded bore 11a of the'boss 11 ice Asuitable gasketls-may' be inserted between-theboss 1.11 and the collar17so as toefrect an efiicient seal-when \the collar'i17' is turned tolock the spigot 12 in the desired pouring 'positionafter'the spigot 12has'been threaded into thedrum' bushing '11.

I t-wi1l be notedthat the tubular'barrel portion l 3-is provided with anoutlet as at '19 "formedin the tubular -,wall portions of the barrelportion 13 and, in this particular-embodiment, the-outlet -19"is-incommunication with a depending sleeve 13b suitably constructedto-receive in corresponding relationship therewith extension tubing asindicated at '20.

'The endof thetubular barrel portion 13 terminates in aneckorgland-indicated generally bythe reference character 13c and throughwhich extends a piston rod 21. The end of the piston rod 21 carries apiston 22 thereon which, in one convenient form, may comprise'a plugprovided with an annular groove to seat an O-type gasket 23 therein,thereby effecting 'a-seal with the bore'walls of thetubularbarrel'portion 13. The neck 130 may also be--provided=with asuitableannular groove to receive an o type-gasket-24 so as to preclude leakageof fluid outwardly along the piston rod 21.

As-will be evident-from the drawing, a handle 26 is provided on the endof the pistonrod 21 so the piston -22-maybe selectively positionedwithin the bore of the tubular barrel portion 13 on either side oftheoutlet 19. jln'thismanner'gthe piston 22 operates as a valve to-control the flow of fluid through the fluidpassageway 14 between,the'inlet -ofthe spigot'12 and the outlet 19.

'-The neck-1300f the spigot ,12 maybe provided with a suitable slot as"is indicated at '27 so .that a pin 128, carried by'the piston rod'2l,may be moved therethrough. The piston rod 21 and ,the'pin 28 may then berotated in 75 the groove 29 in order-that thepiston 22 may be locked inanon-flow position. 'In Figure l, the non-flow position isillustrated'bythe dotted line position of the piston 22, the piston rod 21, and thehandle 26.

The [cylindrical portion 13a of the tubular barrel por- 80 =ti0n :1 :dfinesaventing-duct 29 extending between the :inside of the -:drnm .or:container .10 and the atmosphere.

The duct 29 may be suitably counterbored to receive an insertable sleeve30 therein which, in turn, may have mounted thereon a flapper-type checkvalve 31. The check valve 31 preferably takes the form of a sleeve madeof flexible material with opposed flat wall portions and operates in awell known manner to permit one-way flow of fluid therethrough.

When the structure of the present invention is employed in the handlingof corrosive chemicals and other fluids, it is desirable to make thecheck valve 31, as well as the various sealing elements, from a plasticmaterial such as polymerized ethylene, sometimes identified aspolythene, such material having been found to display desirableresistance characteristics.

The functional action or flow of fluid from the drum or container isdeveloped by pulling the piston 22 to the position shown by the solidlines (Figure 1). The actual rate of flow of the fluid outwardly fromthe drum or container to the extension tubing 20 will be effected in alarge measure by the length of the downspout which governs the syphonpull on the fluid. In any event, irrespective of the rate of flow,venting fluid will readily flow into the drum or container 10simultaneously as the container fluid is withdrawn therefrom.

It will be readily apparent that the structure described permits highflow rates to be obtained without incurring the risks which haveheretofore been attendant upon the handling of various types ofcorrosive fluids. The present arrangement completely eliminates thegurgle effect common to decantation of fluids through a restrictive neckand employs no extraneous springs or valves, the flexible venting memberor check valve 31 being the only valve which is continuously active.

Referring now to Figure 2, the principles of the present invention areshown as applied to a combination spigot structure made of diflerentcomposition materials. Like reference numerals are used whereappropriate.

In this embodiment, the spigot 12 is made of a plastic material such aspolymerized ethylene. The spigot structure 12' is again characterized bythe provision of a tubular barrel portion shown at 32 having an outlet33 and an outlet sleeve 34.

A sleeve element 36, preferably made of metal and externally threaded soas to be threadedly insertable into threaded bore 11a of the boss 11formed on the drum container 10, as well as to threadedly receive acollar 17 thereon, is knurled intermittently along the walls of itsinner bore. The enlarged cylindrical portion 32 of the tubular barrelportion 32 is further provided with a partial annular groove as at 32bso that a tube 37 may be press-fitted into the inner diameter of thetubular barrel portion'32 and the partial annular groove 32b, therebyflowing some of the plastic material of the spigot structure 12' intothe knurled surface of the sleeve element 36.

The other end of the tubular barrel portion 32 is provided with a metalgland 38 which is constructed to closely correspond structurally to theneck 13c previously described and which may be integrated with thespigot structure by molding the plastic tubular barrel portion 32therearound.

A piston tube 39 may also be located Within the tubular barrel portion32 to cooperate with the piston 40 carried on the end of a piston rod41. As shown in Figure 2, the piston 40 may conveniently comprise astamped metal retainer 40a cooperatively related with a metal washer 40band arranged to carry an O-type gasket 400 therebetween.

In this embodiment, the venting duct 29' may be formed with an integralextending tubular portion which readily receives the flexible ventingvalve or check valve 31.

Referring now to Figures 3-6, a further modification is shown whereby amodified collar 41 may be threaded into the threaded bore 11a of theboss 11, the collar 41 being shaped to define a counterbored couplingjoint suitable for receiving a barrel of a spigot structure. It will benoted that the collar 41 is provided with a suitable annular shoulder sothat a gasket 18 may be compressed against the boss 11. The collar 41may also be provided with a suitably threaded aperture to receive a setscrew indicated at 42, the purpose of which will become manifestpresently.

A tubular barrel portion 43 is integrated with the collar 41 by means ofa swivel connection including an annular groove 44 cooperable with theset screw 42 to'lock the tubular barrel portion 43 in any selectedposition, as well as an annular groove provided for seating an O-typegasket 46 engageable with the walls of the collar 41. It will be notedthat the ends of the tubular barrel portion 43 may be beveled so as tosnugly seat on a shoulder 41a presented by the collar 41.

In order to control the flow of fluid through a flow passage 47 definedby the tubular barrel portion 43, a valve seat indicated by thereference numeral 48 may be provided upon which a gate-type valveclosure 49 may be selectively positioned to close the flow passage 47 Inthe particular embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4, the valve seat 48 isdefined by a separate tubular sleeve 50 connected to the tubular barrelportion 43 by means of fasteners 51 arranged to pass through registeringflanges formed at the ends of the elements. The tubular sleeve 50 isprovided with a boss 50a through which a hinge pin 52 extends.

A valve closure 49 is pivotally mounted on the hinge pin 52 at aflattened key portion 52a (Figure 4) and an operating lever 53 is keyedto the end of the hinge pin 52.

The pivotal movement of the valve closure 49 is illustrated in Figure 3where the full line position shows the flow passage 47 as being closedby the valve closure 49 and the dotted line position shows the operatinglever and the valve closure 49 angularly displaced to an open position.

The usual extension tubing 20 may be employed on the end of the tubularsleeve 50.

A venting duct 54 is defined by the collar 41 so as to establish aventing passageway between the atmosphere and the inside of thecontainer or drum 10. A sleeve 54a may be inserted into the venting duct54 and receives on the end thereof a flapper-type flexible venting valveor check valve 31, as before. Thus, when the valve closure 49 ispivotally displaced to the open position, flow of container fluid mayoccur through the flow passage 47 and replacement fluid will be ventedinwardly into the drum or container 10 through the venting duct 54, thesleeve 54a and the check valve 31.

The modification shown in Figures 5 and 6 varies from that previouslydescribed in Figures 3 and 4 only with respect to the structure of thevalve means used for controlling the flow of fluid through the flowpassage established by the tubular barrel portion of the spigotstructure. For this reason, only the valve structure will be describedin detail and like reference numerals will be applied to elementscorresponding to those previously described and identified.

In this embodiment a valve seat 55 is defined in the flow passage 47 byvirtue of an annular shoulder defined in a tubular sleeve 56. Thetubular barrel portion 43' is flared at its outer extremity to receivethe valve mechanism and is provided with an internally threaded skirtportion as at 57 to threadedly receive the tubular sleeve 56. Thetubular barrel portion 43 may be further augmented by the provision of awasher guide support 58.

The valve closure of this embodiment takes the form of a poppet valveindicated generally by the reference numeral 59 and including a valvestem 59a cooperable with the guide support 58 and having a valve head59b formed on one end. An annular gasket 59c adapted to snugly engagethe seat 55 is positioned on the face of the valve head 5%. A guideelement 60 having a plurality of spaced fingers adapted to ride alongthe wall of the bore defined by the tubular sleeve 56 may be attached tothe valve head 59b by means of a fastener 61.

A coil spring 62 may be positioned around the valve stem 59a and isarranged to be confined by the guide member 58 so as to normally springbias the valve closure 59 into a closed position upon the seat 55.

The tubular barrel portion 43' of this embodiment is provided with aboss as at 63 through which extends a threaded bushing 64. The bushing64 is employed to journal a pin 66 therein, the pin 66 being providedwith a groove 66a cooperable with the bushing 64 to prevent axialmovement of the pin 66.

A cam element 67 is secured on one end of the pin 66 and is arranged tolie between spaced shoulders defined by the valve closure 59.

A suitable handle 68 may be connected to the pin 66 to facilitatemanipulation thereof. Thus, when the pin 66 is turned, the cam 67 willoperatively engage the shoulders presented by the valve closure 59 so asto actuate the valve against the bias of the spring 62 to move the valvehead 59b away from the seat 55, thereby opening the flow passage 47.

As before, the usual extension tubing 20 may be employed on the end ofthe tubular sleeve 56.

It will be apparent to those versed in the art that we have described anovel and improved combination spigot structure incorporatingself-venting means therein for effecting high flow rate from closedcontainers.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effectedwithout departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the presentinvention.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a self-venting fluid drainage apparatus for a fluid containerhaving a drainage bushing, a spigot structure comprising substantiallyan L tube having a barrel portion received into the bushing and anangled handle portion, said barrel and handle portions having separateintersecting bores together forming an angled fluid flow passage, apiston reciprocable in the bore of said barrel portion on opposite sidesof the point of intersection of said bores for opening and closing thefluid flow passage in the handle portion and operable to control theflow of fluid through the barrel portion into the handle portion, aventing duct in said spigot structure adjacent said fluid flow passageand extending into the container, and a check valve in control of theflow of venting fluid into the container, whereby said piston may beselectively positioned to eflect sealing of the container orself-venting drainage of the fluid in the container.

2. In a spigot structure for flowing fluid from a container, a tubularbarrel portion establishing a fluid flow passage and having an inlet atone end thereof and a closed opposite end, the side wall of the tubularbarrel portion having an outlet opening between said ends, a pistonhaving a rod portion slidably extending through said closed opposite endand being reciprocable in said passage from a position on one side ofsaid outlet opening to a position on the other side of said outletopening to control the flow of fluid from said inlet to said outletopening, said tubular barrel portion having a venting passageway formedadjacent said fluid flow passage, and a check valve controlling saidventing passage.

3. A drain control unit for the bushings of drums or the like whichcomprises an angled spigot having a first hollow leg with an open endfor insertion in a bushing and a closed opposite end, together with asecond hollow leg depending from the first leg between the open andclosed ends, a plunger reciprocably slidable in the bore and said firstleg on opposite sides of said second leg for opening and closing saidsecond leg relative to said open end of said first leg, a plungeractuating rod extending through the closed end of said first leg andhaving a manual operating portion on the end thereof, a seal in saidclosed end engaging said rod, said first leg having a vent passagetherethrough, a rubber tube at the inner end of said vent passage havinga collapsed end forming a valve which will open only when the pressurein the vent passage exceeds the pressure surrounding the tube, and meanson the open end of the first leg for securing said end in a drum bushingor the like with said collapsed end of the rubber tube projecting intosaid drum.

4. A device for controlling the decantation of fluid from a drum havingan opening formed by a bung bushing, comprising, a spigot assemblyhaving one leg adapted to be mounted in the bung bushing and having anangularly offset leg forming a pouring spout, said one leg beingangularly adjustable in said bushing, a vent passage formed by saidspigot, 21 rubber-tube, flapper-type check valve on the inner end ofsaid passage, an annular groove in said leg, an O ring seal member insaid groove to seal the spigot assembly in the bushing, means to locksaid one leg in selected angularly adjusted pouring position, saidspigot assembly including said leg having a flow passage therethrough,and a valve in said flow passage to control the flow of fluid throughsaid spigot assembly, said valve more particularly comprising a pistonaxially reciprocable in said one leg, said angularly ofiset legintersecting said one leg at an outlet opening controlled by said iston.P 5. A drain control spigot unit for the bushings of drums or the likewhich comprises an angled spigot having a first hollow leg portion withan open end, and a second hollow leg portion angularly offset from saidfirst leg portion and having an open end, said first and second legportions providing an angled flow passage between said open ends, afirst annular surface provided in an intermediate portion of said flowpassage, a valve head member providing a second annular surfaceconfronting said first annular surface, said valve head member beingmovable from a passage-closing position inside of said flow passage whensaid first and second confronting surfaces are engaged and a passageopen position inside of said flow passage when said first and secondconfronting surfaces are disengaged, an externally threaded collarintegrated with said first leg circumjacent said open end of said firstleg for connecting said spigot unit in the bushing of a drum or thelike, a venting duct formed in said collar adjacent said flow passageand extending through said collar for communicating the interior of thedrum with the atmosphere, a check valve connected to said collar andbeing in control of the flow of venting fluid through said venting ductinto the drum, and a manual actuating means connected to said valve headmember and extending outside of said angled spigot, whereby said valvehead member may be positioned to effect sealing of the drum orself-venting drainage of the fluid from the drum through said flowpassage.

6. A drain control spigot unit as defined in claim 5, said angled spigotbeing integrated to said collar by means of a swivel connectionincluding an annular groove and a set screw formed in, and carried by,the spigot and the collar, respectively.

7. A drain control spigot unit as defined in claim 5, said angled spigotbeing integrated to said collar by means of a swivel connectionrotatably connecting the collar and the spigot and including an annulargroove in said spigot and a pin received in said groove and carried bysaid collar, a second annular groove formed in said spigot, an O ringseal member in said groove engaging said collar, and a second seal forsealing between said collar and said bushing.

8. A drain control spigot unit as defined in claim 5, said valve headmember more particularly comprising a gate valve pivotally hinged in theflow passage and providing said second annular surface, said spigothaving a seat portion providing said first annular surface and receivingsaid gate valve.

9. A drain control spigot unit as defined in claim 5, said spigot havinga valve seat formed therein and providing said first annular surface,said valve head member more particularly comprising a spring-pressedpoppet valve providing said second annular surface and being normallyseated on said valve seat, said manual actuating means more particularlycomprising a cam actuator engageable with said poppet valve and havingan actuating handle extending exteriorly of said angularly offset leg tooperate said valve upon selective rotation of said cam actuator.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS108,824 Putman Nov. 1, 1870 129,090 Bourgeois July 16, 1872 157,800Demarest Dec. 15, 1874 222,766 Woodward Dec. 16, 1879 250,085 Lillis-Nov. 29, 1881 431,592 Kinn July 8, 1890 495,718 Beebe Apr. 18, 1893710,631 Tietz Oct. 7, 1902 972,826 Cordley Oct. 18, 1910 1,278,764Seiler Sept. 10, 1918 1,705,404 Hedberg Mar. 12, 1929 1,957,082Schneible May 1, 1934 2,019,257 Gibbs Oct. 29, 1935 2,032,302 NovotnyFeb. 25, 1936 2,046,474 Maggenti July 7, 1936 2,264,671 Kocher Dec. 2,1941 2,314,683 Berry Mar. 23, 1943 2,360,733 Smith Oct. 17, 19442,471,725 Clilford May 31, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 555,716 Great Britain1945

